You are here

SCORE Code of Ethics

By signing the application form for membership, each volunteer agrees to adhere to the SCORE Code of Ethics and Conduct. Volunteers are asked to read the Code of Ethics and Conduct annually and to sign a document reaffirming their commitment to it.

Client Interests

“Client” shall mean:

any person who is a US Citizen or green card holder who has requested mentoring by SCORE and who has signed and submitted to SCORE a SCORE Form 641 Request for Mentoring, whether such request is made on-line or directly with a SCORE Chapter by hard copy.

any person attending a workshop sponsored by SCORE, or by another entity with SCORE participating, provided that an attendee list or sign-in sheet containing the client's name is completed and kept on file at the SCORE Chapter.

To best serve SCORE clients, SCORE volunteers shall:

Always conduct their mentoring and other SCORE activities in a manner that unequivocally places the business interests of their clients first. Volunteers shall ensure that all available resources are offered to clients, including assistance by other mentors or chapters, or by outside organizations if a resource does not exist within SCORE.

Initiate follow-up contacts to ensure the potential success of their clients. Volunteers will continue mentoring a client as long as the mentoring is of value to the client. If the volunteer is unable to continue mentoring for personal reasons, the case will be reassigned to another volunteer.

At all times protect the confidentiality of business information provided by the clients.

Not accept or participate in SCORE activities that create a conflict of interest between the volunteers, their families, outside business or financial activities or interests.

Compensation

As unpaid volunteers, SCORE volunteers, individually, shall:

Neither charge nor accept fees, honoraria or things of value as payment for individual mentoring services or for their participation in training activities on behalf of SCORE.

Not accept payment from a client for travel or other expenses incident to mentoring or training or any other activity.

A SCORE volunteer may never solicit business from a SCORE client. The volunteer assigned to mentor a client may not become a paid contractor or consultant. In the event that a volunteer does accept employment from his/her client, he or she must immediately resign from SCORE.

The chapter chair will take the following actions:

Immediately remove the volunteer from the chapter roster and notify the National office by using Form 7, Volunteer Change Form.

Immediately write the client that has employed the volunteer and inform him or her that the mentor is no longer a volunteer of the SCORE Association and that SCORE cannot be held accountable for the future actions or advice of the former mentor.

The chapter chair can submit a request of waiver from this process if special circumstances arise. The chapter chair should notify the district director in writing of the special circumstances. The district director should then work with SCORE National office to render a final decision on the situation.

NOTE: SCORE clients are allowed to make donations to SCORE, but should be made through the SCORE Foundation. As a 501c3 organization, all donations from individuals or clients are tax exempt.

Third Parties

The following guidelines apply to interactions between SCORE volunteers and third parties:

SCORE volunteers shall not accept fees, commissions, kickbacks or things of value from third parties as a result of recommending any services, equipment or supplies, nor shall they recommend the purchase of goods or services in which they have a direct or indirect interest, financial or otherwise.

When volunteers perform SCORE services for another organization or agency (other than SBA or SCORE clients), the organization may reimburse SCORE for the expenses of the volunteers by providing an honorarium to SCORE or the chapter, which can then reimburse the volunteers for their expenses.

SCORE volunteers, when advising clients about obtaining professional or other services or goods, shall identify, whenever feasible, several sources from which the client may select.

Personal Interests

To safeguard the integrity of the SCORE mission, it is vital to avoid any actual or apparent conflict of interest. To that end, SCORE volunteers or their families shall not:

Seek, in any way, business from SCORE clients except that a SCORE volunteer who is actively employed or in private practice may, when giving a workshop or seminar, leave business cards or their equivalent in a place where attendees have access to them. In the event an attendee wishes to engage the speaker for assistance or advice, the speaker must advise this prospective client in writing that this is not a SCORE relationship and that SCORE is in no way involved. Such writing shall be forwarded to the chapter chair and district director.

The attendee must also state in writing that they have not been mentored as a SCORE client by the speaker, that this is not a SCORE relationship and that SCORE is in no way involved. Such writing shall be forwarded to the chapter chair and district director.

Directly or indirectly become officers, directors or shareholders, or provide funding (by way of investing, loans or otherwise) for a for-profit business organization that is seeking mentoring assistance from SCORE or has received it within the past three years.

Referral of SCORE Volunteers to Clients

When a SCORE client requests that SCORE refer the client to an advisor who is privately employed or in private practice, and a SCORE volunteer is a person privately employed or in private practice and could potentially be of assistance to the client, then the SCORE chapter may include such volunteer on a list of no fewer than three persons. No other person on the list can be a SCORE volunteer. The chapter or other SCORE volunteers may not recommend anyone on the list other than to indicate that all are deemed to be highly qualified, nor may it be noted in any way that a SCORE mentor’s name is on the list.

If a SCORE mentor is selected from the list provided, that mentor must provide notice, in writing, to the client that the services are provided independently of SCORE, and SCORE is no longer involved. A copy of this notification must be given to the chapter chair and district director.

The SCORE volunteer named on the list may not be someone who has previously mentored the client requesting the referral.

Personal Conduct

As long as they are part of the association, SCORE volunteers shall:

Participate in chapter activities as agreed to between the chapter and the volunteer.

Be responsible for staying current with continuing advances in successful business practices and relevant technical developments.

Not discriminate in any of their SCORE-related activities against any person because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, handicap or sexual preference.

Not make public statements that appear to associate SCORE with personal opinions of the volunteers or which are critical of SCORE or any of its sponsors.

Not make statements that appear to identify SCORE with a political party or a candidate for federal, state or local office.

At all times during the performance of their services, conduct themselves in such a manner as not to discredit themselves, SCORE or the SBA.

Not engage in any form of sexual harassment or sexual discrimination of clients, other volunteers or SCORE staff. Sexual harassment includes the making of deliberate or repeated unsolicited verbal comments, gestures or physical contact of a sexual nature in circumstances where such conduct reasonably is or would be unwelcome to the offended person or persons. Further, when such unwelcome conduct reasonably interferes with or creates an intimidating, offensive or hostile mentoring or other work environment, it is considered sexual harassment. Any violations should be reported via the grievance process defined in Chapter 10 of the SOM, or, if the grievance involves the leadership of the chapter or district, the volunteer should directly contact the Vice President of Field Operations at the SCORE Association office.

Maintain professional relationships with all SCORE clients. If a volunteer wishes to enter into a personal relationship with a SCORE client, he or she should consult the chapter or district leadership for guidance.

Seek advance advice about the propriety of any action or inaction that they have reason to believe may be or may lead to a violation of the SCORE Code of Ethics and Conduct before they or others engage in the activity or fail to act. If needed, the chapter chair shall consult the district director or SCORE Vice President of Field Operations concerning the proper decision. Any volunteer requesting advice from any chapter, district or national officer shall receive a decision in writing.

Variances

All of the provisions expressed above in this Code of Ethics and Conduct are set forth for the purpose of protecting SCORE clients, SCORE volunteers and the SCORE Association. However, where one or more of these provisions works to the detriment of a SCORE client, however slight that detriment may be, a variance may be granted where the SCORE Association Vice President of Field Operations deems it appropriate to do so.

The process is as follows:

The request shall be made in writing by the affected client or volunteer.

The request shall set forth the reasons in full as to why any provision(s) of the SCORE Code of Ethics and Conduct as written will work to the detriment of the client.

The request shall state that the client has had ample opportunity to consult competent professionals (lawyer, accountant, etc.) and is satisfied that the variance is in his/her best interests.

The request shall be submitted to the chapter chair who may make a recommendation as to the disposition of this matter and will forward the matter to the district director.

The district director may then make a recommendation and will forward the matter to the SCORE VP of Field Operations.

The SCORE Vice President of Field Operations will render a decision in writing with copies to all parties. The SCORE Vice President of Field Operations’ decision shall be final.

Commitment to the Code

Volunteers shall be fully aware of the SCORE Code of Ethics and Conduct. When individuals apply for membership in SCORE, they agree by signing the membership application that they “shall comply with the provisions of SCORE’s Code of Ethics and Conduct, which I have read, and also with the other rules for its volunteers.”

Accordingly, applicants shall receive and retain a copy of the current Code of Ethics and Conduct at the time they receive an application for membership. Since changes may occur in the Code of Ethics and Conduct and to refresh volunteers’ knowledge of the provisions of the code, each chapter shall:

At the beginning of each fiscal year, give each volunteer a current copy of the Code of Ethics and Conduct.

At that time, require each volunteer to sign and date a statement that says, “I have reread the SCORE Code of Ethics and Conduct and reaffirm my agreement to comply with its provisions.”